Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-21

i OF this little community. You rejoice In
being giant among dwarfs. ! will never
be content until can mingle with peo-
pie Of whom | can learn something to my
advantage. Tom, if you would only cut
loose from these old associations go to
some place; see the world. Get an educa-
ton, be a man then Join woman who
can appreciate the nobility within you,
but so deeply laid that it isn't for Janet
Gray to make it shine with brightest
luster and having done this you will be
man with mans interests, and not the plod-
ding, life-sick drudge you viii speedily
become in trying to earn a subsistence by
upturning these hillside rocks
But, Tom" she continued; and as she
| noticed the downcaSt look in his eyes, she
rose and laid her hand upon his dark, curly
locks and brushed them back from brow
broad and intellectual didn't mean to
hurt you by what | said. Remember al
ways that Janet Gray has sisters inter-
est in you, and though you may wear away
| all your days in rough labor, you are
! true man for all that, and no one knows ii
better than myself FL always remember
you, whether in poverty or comfort, sick
ness or health and though it isn't for one
like me to fill the place of wife to Thomas
Toy, yet try to reward my sisterly inter-
est with brothers love-"
jamie" said he, as he drew her hand
reverently to his lips, "you are as far
above me as the heavens are above the
earth. This hand you are right, Janie)
was never meant to do the toll of farmers
wife. Go, my sister, do your work, win
your laurels of honesty and a good name.
| Go, jamie, where the world will appreciate
your worth, but no better than | do. Go
to the success you will undoubtedly win,
and my good wishes, blessing and love be
| with your
So saying, he rose from his place at her
| feet, and the two walked up the woodland
path to where only the little orchard sepa-
rated Janet from her home. There he left
her, to return to sterner duties.
During the ten years that followed this
conversation up in the wilds of Cheshire
county, many changes have been in pro-
gress. Janet Gray, after successfully turn
ing aside the many objections which were
raised to her plans for the future, started
off to the nearest station, which we have
said was twenty miles distant She felt
that she was taking the first step in an
undertaking which would prove satisfac-
torily by whose counsel it had been bet
| ter to abide. Long after she had left
! the woods, the little brook, the hill, and
| the honest-hearted friends behind her, she
remembered the peculiar light in the eyes
of William Thomas Toy which she had
never seen there before as he babe her go
on to honor and success, and he said. as he
lifted her from the road wagon at the sta
tions, g Perhaps wen travel the road to-
gether yet" That statement was an en-
| igma to her of which she could not guess
the meaning. Tom has something in
view. Still water runs deep"
jamie spent the frs: three years that fol-
lowed in doing great deal of copying in
offices, and the time between work hours
was improved by giving much attention to
the reading of the best authors She made
the home of an ancient relative the basis
of operations from which place every morn
ing she went to her usual work. Dur
ing this time she had gained some atten-
ton from the best people of the city, by
the great literary ability she began to dis
play, and when, six years after bidding
adieu TO the associations of childhood
Janet Gray timidly gave her first book to
the public for its approval, her success for
the future was assured. In all the import
ant movements which followed, in which
the services of ready talker or able writer
were required, it was her pen and tongue
which did active part. Her strong indi-
viduality, sprightly manner in conversa-
ton, her information on all subjects, drew
about her many admirers. In the ten
years that had changed her from an ambi-
tious girl of eighteen to the noble woman
| hood of twenty-eight her face was not
marked with one whit less of its yivacity
and interesting expression. She had kept
herself informed of the family up in Ches-
hire county by scrawling letters written
her at semi-annual intervals, which usually
referred to the state of crops, moving of
meadows and additions to the stock COM
munity. Her stepmother was dead No
mention was ever made of William Thomas
| Toy, and Janet lived her live in total ig-
norance thus far of his doings.
She had thoughts of him many times
and wondered if he still plodded along in
the same humble way, or was he perchance
doing something to unravel the mystery of
the statement he had made at parting No
+, doubt, she thought, he had married some
farmers buxom lass, who could milk COWS,
and tend to the duties of farmers wife
in real earnest. With sigh the subject
was dismissed.
1t was about this time that a leading
literary institution was to be addressed by
one of the worlds greatest lecturers. All
the elite of the city were there assembled.
Every one, protesting any interest at all in
| literary movements, was there to listen to
3 4 L IL L. L ]
into such beautiful harmony by this mans
wonderful power.
Janet Gray, with few friends. occupied
> conspicuous place. The speaker deiiv-
cred his address. When almost through,
he said:
Ladies and gentleman, confess N.Y.
self highly honored in the attention YOU
have bestowed upon my effort this even
ing. The subject assigned me | have
treated with profound conviction Of its
wonderful Importance. The advice have
given you is that which, if followed, will
make men and women of you all. Young
man, young woman, don't let it be said
that you leave this place where you are
educated, with only sheepskin to take
you through the world. Too many of you
not only take your sheepskins, but you
leave entirely enveloped in sheepskins.
"a few years since" he continued, II
was returning home from an extended lee
ture tour. Once, as the train stopped, my
attention was attracted by two gentlemen
conyersing in the back part of the car, and
the words of one made an impression on
me that was an exemplifcation of the
very will force of which have been talk
ing. Yes said one of the gentlemen, 8 |
feel it great pity that | have never been
able to enjoy good college education; but,
God helping me, | viii attain mental